Military Equipment Used by Police in Ferguson Also Found at Arizona Police Departments

There's a lot of discussion taking place about the militarization of police amid protests in Ferguson, Missouri, over the local police department's controversial shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Peaceful protests have been met with police tear-gassing, aiming rifles at protesters, and arrests, according to reports. It's gotten to the point that even U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says he's "deeply concerned that the deployment of military equipment and vehicles [by police] sends a conflicting message" in the community.

The militarization of police has been an issue the American Civil Liberties Union has reported on well before this incident, and just a few months ago, the organization reported on "massive military-grade weapons caches" at police departments in Arizona.

"The irony [in Holder's statement] is that the federal government over the past two decades has been supplying these police departments with military-grade equipment," ACLU of Arizona executive director Alessandra Soler tells New Times.

USA Todayhas reported that Ferguson's police force got all this military gear through the Department of Defense's 1033 program, which is the same program that has allowed Arizona police agencies to acquire 37,467 pieces of military equipment from the federal government.

The ACLU just released a report in June in which it tried to track these pieces of military equipment in a handful of states, including Arizona.

Through records requests, the ACLU found that the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has acquired a .50-caliber machine gun, 120 assault rifles, five armored vehicles, and 10 helicopters, mostly through the 1033 program.

The ACLU also found the following at police departments and sheriff's offices around the state:

32 bomb suits

704 units of night vision equipment, e.g., night-vision goggles

1034 guns, of which 712 are rifles

42 forced entry tools, such as battering rams

830 units of surveillance and reconnaissance equipment

13,409 personal protective equipment (PPE) and/or uniforms

120 utility trucks

64 armored vehicles

4 GPS devices

17 helicopters

21,211 other types of military equipment

The ACLU's report seems especially relevant now, with the national news media focusing on what's going on in Ferguson.

This morning, the Reverend Jarrett Maupin II of Phoenix told us he wouldn't be surprised to see something similar happen locally, as he noted the outcry against police after Officer Richard Chrisman's shooting of Daniel Rodriguez in 2010.

"People should know Ferguson is literally on fire, but there are many cities -- including our own -- that are figuratively on fire and waiting for the next Michael Brown to be killed for things to boil over and for violence to erupt," Maupin said.

The ACLU's report, "War Comes Home," includes much more information about police militarization than what's mentioned above.

Who gives a damn. There are enough shit cops who think a badge and a gun is a pass to be a complete abusive dickhead. The LEAST of the worries is equipment. They are fucked enough with or without military equipment. FTP.

everyone here is bitchin about the local PD's, and the use of military tactics / equipment,,..its startin to boil, and we are the frogs in the pot and its just gonna get worse...all veterans, and current military,and cops as well I think swear to uphold and protect the US from all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC,..the guy was stealing cigars from a QT store, and he started it by not complying with the cops, tryin to take his gun, then the death of the guy, ghetto mentality kicked in, then the looters...

You should get ready to lock and load because its the mentality of the cops, that citizens are the enemy, and its coming to a theater in your area soon.

Mr. Hendley, I sure would like to know how Arpaio's marching Border Nazi pal child murdering J.T. Ready obtained the six Military high tech rocket propelled grenade weapons of mass destruction that were found and shown on the evening news by police at his Gilbert Arizona home ?!!

At the time of the Gilbert Massacre Police stated that the grenades all had Military serial numbers on them and could be traced to where they came from.

Shortly after the incident the U.S. Military halted Military equipment to police due to unauthorized distribution of Military equipment by Arizona Sheriffs to the Public.

While Arpaio claims to be "keeping the neighborhoods safe", are Arizona Sheriffs Bozo's with Real Military War Gear really our biggest threat?!!

If Sheriffs gave Military rocket propelled grenades to Neo Nazi Home Grown Terrorists in Maricopa County neighborhoods, the People, and Voters deserve to know the TRUTH!

Can anyone tell the truth regarding where the weapons of mass destruction found at a Gilbert Home near my home came from?!!!!!

Jerome Lopez watched too much Red Dawn. The chance of "our army being elsewhere" when al qaida parachutes into Arizona undetected is much lower than reality; which is that they'll probably use it to escalate force, oppress crowds of legal protesters, and to serve warrants on US citizens.

Having a. 50 cal, and using one against civilians is totally different. I wonder if the men and women who fight to own M4's and other assault rifles are also okay with police (highly trained marksmen) having these.

Six Military Rocket Propelled Grenades with serial numbers on them each one capable of leveling a house to ruble were found at J.T. Ready's Gilbert Home along with two fifty five gallon barrels of highly flamable acetone.

Ever watch the evening news Marcy?!

Shortly after the Gilbert Massacre, the U.S. Military suspended Military Gear to Police stating abuses involving Arizona Sheriffs.

It was also reported that J.T. Ready was on the F.B.I.'s "Home Grown Terrorist" list.